Ever wondered why so many home inspectors struggle when they try to break into commercial inspections? James Hooper, owner of Bridgetown Inspections and Oregon Commercial Inspections, reveals the stark reality: it's not just a bigger version of what you're already doing—it's an entirely different business requiring a complete professional transformation. Hooper's journey began like many others, juggling a full-time job at UPS while building his home inspection business. After receiving incre...
We're tackling a productivity killer hiding in plain sight: excessive photo annotations. Through careful timing and analysis, we've discovered that adding just two annotations to a photo takes about 11 seconds. For inspectors who annotate all 150 photos in an average report, that's 27.5 minutes per inspection—or a staggering 91+ hours annually for someone doing 200 inspections per year. That's over two full work weeks spent drawing arrows and circles! When translated to dollars, we're talkin...
What keeps you going when home inspection gets tough? When you're rubbing your temples between appointments or crawling through another challenging crawlspace, what drives you forward? In this candid conversation, Jay returns to the podcast for another installment of "Drinking with Jay" to explore the concept of remembering your professional "why" – that core purpose that separates sustainable success from eventual burnout. Over glasses of Glendonock 12-year scotch and Ironweed Empire Rye, w...
Are you abandoning proven digital marketing strategies in favor of AI optimization? You might be shooting yourself in the foot. In this revealing episode of Inspector Toolbelt Talk, we unpack the dangerous trend of home inspectors throwing away their Google visibility while chasing AI search results. We break down the crucial distinction between transactional and informational searches - a difference that could make or break your online visibility strategy. While AI excels at answering infor...
Lance Coffman returns to Inspector Toolbelt Talk to deliver a masterclass on the current state of commercial property inspections and why it remains an exceptional opportunity for inspectors looking to diversify their business. While residential markets have struggled over the past two years, commercial inspections continue to thrive. Unlike residential inspections that depend almost entirely on real estate transactions, commercial inspectors serve a diverse clientele including current build...
Are you a home inspector pouring precious marketing resources into ranking for "home inspector near me" searches? You might be chasing a mirage. In this eye-opening episode, we tackle one of the most persistent SEO myths in the home inspection industry. What many inspectors and marketing agencies treat as essential keywords is actually a location-based query trigger that operates completely differently from traditional keyword searches. I break down exactly why two people typing the ex...
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries worldwide, and home inspection is squarely in its sights. In this thought-provoking conversation with returning guest Preston Kincaid, we explore the coming AI revolution that threatens to fundamentally alter how home inspections are conducted—and what separates the inspectors who will thrive from those who won't survive. The parallels to travel agents in 1999 are striking. When airlines introduced online booking, travel agencies nea...
The debate over AI chatbots and phone answering services in the home inspection industry reveals a crucial truth: what seems like technological progress might actually be damaging your business. This eye-opening discussion exposes the hidden costs of automation when it comes to customer communication. Research paints a sobering picture – 77% of consumers report frustration when unable to reach a human agent, while 52% say a negative AI interaction makes them less likely to do business with a...
Whether clients should attend home inspections is a question that plagues both new and seasoned professionals. After 20 years in the field and countless inspections, I've concluded that despite some challenges, having clients present during inspections creates the best outcomes for everyone involved. The most compelling reason for client attendance comes down to communication efficiency. When clients witness the inspection process firsthand, they develop a clearer understanding of their prop...
The housing market has finally reached a pivotal turning point. After years of frenzied buying, skipped inspections, and astronomical prices, we're witnessing a much-needed stabilization that brings good news for both homebuyers and inspection professionals. Our latest market analysis reveals that 44% of current listings have sat for over 60 days—representing a staggering $700 billion in inventory. This extended time on market means sellers are becoming realistic about pricing, with the aver...
Master the art of neutral language. Ever wondered how a simple observation can shield you from liability? Our latest episode of Inspector Toolbelt Talk is packed with insights on maintaining professionalism by focusing on factual observations. We delve into practical examples, like how to handle those notorious water stains on ceilings, ensuring your reports stay objective and reliable. By avoiding assumptions and speculation, you not only protect yourself but also empower your clients to mak...
The secret to building a thriving home inspection business even in challenging markets comes down to a deceptively simple principle: "Raise your prices until the phone stops ringing." Tom Perenzino, owner of Modern Home Inspections in Connecticut, reveals how this philosophy helped him build a company charging over $1,000 per inspection on average—more than double the national average—while capturing 3% market share in one of the country's most difficult real estate environments. What separa...
Ever feel like you're doing all the right marketing things but still hitting a ceiling in your home inspection business? You're not alone. In this exploration of innovative marketing strategies, we dive deep into how Coco Chanel's revolutionary approach to fashion provides a perfect blueprint for home inspectors looking to stand out. What made Chanel remarkable wasn't that she completely shattered conventions—she simply bent them in ways that felt both novel and familiar. She designed ...
For home inspectors (especially with construction backgrounds) 203k consulting might be the perfect way to expand your business while helping buyers transform fixer-uppers into dream homes. As a 203k consultant, you become the linchpin of successful renovation projects. The process begins with a comprehensive property inspection to identify minimum FHA requirements, then expands to include client renovation wishes. You'll create detailed specifications of repairs with line-by-line cost estim...
Drawing from 20 years of experience refining inspection agreements with national and local attorneys, we explore the crucial legal clauses that have repeatedly saved home inspectors from unnecessary liability and litigation. • Third-party protection clause prevents contractors, attorneys, and others from misinterpreting your report and holding you liable • Claim notification requirements demand clients provide written notice within 14 days of discovery via certified mail • Insurance company ...
Digital marketing strategies need diversity beyond Google Local Service Ads to create sustainable business growth for home inspectors. Marketing expert Jason Bowings shares practical advice for building multiple lead sources when the "golden goose" of Google Guaranteed starts producing fewer eggs. • Google Local Service Ads (GLSA) has changed from a golden opportunity to just one piece of a comprehensive strategy • Never rely on a single marketing channel – diversification protects against a...
Recessions aren't something to fear – they're opportunities to seize, especially if you're a home inspection business owner. While conventional wisdom suggests economic downturns are universally negative, historical data reveals a surprising truth: home inspection companies consistently thrive during these periods. During both the Great Recession (2007-2009) and the COVID-19 downturn (2020), the inspection industry experienced remarkable growth while other sectors struggled. This isn't coinc...
Words matter in home inspection reports - especially when those reports might end up scrutinized in court. This eye-opening discussion with Mike Marlow of Veteran Home Inspections reveals why the seemingly innocuous phrase "further evaluation" could be the most dangerous term in your reporting vocabulary. Mike and Ian break down why saying "further evaluation recommended" could cause issues by effectively saying you started evaluating something but didn't finish. The conversation takes fascin...
Effective inspection report writing requires finding the perfect balance between thoroughness and client accessibility, with strategic organization making all the difference in client satisfaction and efficiency. • Report summaries should be placed at the beginning, not the end, of inspection reports for maximum client usability • Common industry fear that front-loaded summaries create liability has little evidence to support it • Consolidating report sections (like combining all bedrooms un...
The difference between a successful home inspection business and an extraordinary one often comes down to something that can't be captured on a checklist: the customer experience you create. Mike Ortiz of Homefront Inspections returns to share the hard-earned wisdom that has transformed his business from agent-dependent to client-driven through the power of exceptional service. "They want to feel taken care of, they want to feel warm and fuzzy, they want to understand things, they want to fe...